Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Hood River, Oregon USA

I’m *very* impressed with this one. Pours black, with a dense, light tan head. The thing I love the most is how they managed to impart so much bourbon into the aroma and flavor, yet maintain a rich complexity beneath that note. The aroma was overwhelmingly of bourbon - this is the closest a brew has come to the Bourbon County Stout as I’ve seen. Bourbon and oak, underlaid with toffee, chocolate, brown sugar, and a strong vanilla note as well. Mouthfeel is fantastic - just thick enough, and with just enough carbonation to keep it clean. Sweet, but dry. The one flaw is a slightly sour note that lingers. Slightly boozy, though pretty well-covered for 10.5%. Very drinkable for that ABV. Way to go, Full Sail!

400th Rating - 2009 Bottle - Pours black and a bit thinner than I expected with a tiny cream coloured head...aroma is intoxicating, huge bourbon barrel nose, vanilla oak, chocolate, old fruit...flavour is a complete surprise...creme cafe, chocolate, raisin, fairly high carbonation for the style, and alcohol is well hidden...it is creamy and smooth, finishes with a charred oak bitterness...very enjoyable...

22oz bottle from 5000(’06), huge thanks for this gem Andre. Very dark with very little head. Strong bourbon notes in the aroma. Lots of vanilla up front, woody with the alcohol very noticable in the back of the throat. Very good shit.

love the bourbon barrel age. malt coffee, yadda yadda.... the unique attribute of this is that it has a slightly sour note across the tongue, front to back, that lingers in the finish. For me, it is what is keeping it from getting a higher score. This is cellared 2006.

Bottle in a trade. Pours a black body with tan head. Sweet malt, coffee, bourbon and oak, creamy vanilla and etoh notes. A solid Impy.

Another backlogged rating from RBSG ’08 Grand Tasting at Pizza Port Carlsbad. Sampled at the end of a crazy evening of insane beers. Dark brown color with clear edges and a tan ring. Huge bourbon and smoked wood aroma, smothered in vanilla. Flavor is sweet with tones of molasses, whiskey and some black licorice. Smooth, mature palate with a lingering oak finish. Awesome stuff.

22 oz bottle, from Liquid Solutions (I think). Pours dark brown, opaque with a smallish beige head. Roasty, bourbon barrel, raisin, bitter herbs, bitter chocolate, alcohol and more. Full body, gentle carbonation. Good.

2006 vintage courtesy of BückDich. Deep, deep brown with beige head. Aorma is sweet malts, dark fruit, cocoa, bourbon, and soy sauce. Absolutely amazing flavor. Chocolate, dark fruits, milky, vanilla, roasted, bourbon, and some sweet caramel. Sliky smooth, soft, and full bodied. Delicious!